Compression-operated ignition device.



-W. F. STANTON. COMPRESSIONOPERATED IGNITIONDEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15.1916.

lPatnted 1Fe1 5, 1918.

4 SHEETS--SHEET I.

W. F STANTON. COMPRESSION OPERATED IGNITION DEVICE.

, h APPLICATION man NOV-15.19163, I v

Patented Feb. 5, was.

'4 SHEETS-SHE a.

W. F. STANTON. COMPRESSION OPERATED'IGNHION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV-15.1916.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 To all whom it may concern:

f avoid noise; to

F. STANTON, OF PAWTUCKET nnom: ISLAND,

ASSIGN 033, T0 MA'JFIE C.

ranssnnn, or'rnw'rncirnr, nnonn rsta tn.

coinrnnssron-ornnnrnn ionrrroit nnvrcn.

'Be it known that l, WARREN F. STANTON, a citizen of the United.- States, residing at Pawtucket, in the county'of lPa-wtucket and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compression-Operated Ignition Devices, ,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a division of my pending patent application, Serial N 0. 105,649, filed June 24, 1916, and relates t" compression operated ignition devices ada ted for use in conjunction with internal combustion engines, pumps, and other devices.

The essential objects of my inventionare to produce an effective spark ifor. the ignition of combustible gases at a minimum rate of compression, especially at the 'ti1ne of starting so as to render rapid cranking unnecessary; to vary the rate of speed of operationof the device and control the timing of the produced spark under all conditions; to prevent shocks to the armature and oscillating parts of the magneto; to avoid strains to the device caused by the piston reciprocating members, and the explosion of the charge; to so house the device as to pro-. tect the parts from the exterior elements and retain the lubricant; to maintain the parts at a low temperature; to concentrate all wear on easily renewable parts; to utilize portions of the operating mechanism for conducting the generated electrical current to automatically lubricate the piston; and to prevent sticking ofv the latter.

My invention consists, therefore, in the means and mechanism for producing the results above specified'substantially as hereinafter described and claimed, and as shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, wherein- Figures 1 and 2 are plan and side elevations respectively of my ignition device, showing the adjacent part of the engine in section,

Figs. 3 and 4:, sections respectively on lines 3.3 and H of Fig. 2,

F ig. 5, a partial section on line 5-' 5 of Fig t with a portion of the housing removed, Fig. 6, a bottom plan view of the armature returning mechanism,

Fig. 7, a rear end elevation of the ignition device,

- Specification of Letters Patent.

105,649. Divided and this 1916. Serial No. lltLttDil.

is th ,in the end of section 46 by a Patented Feta.- d, that application filed November lit,

'Fig'. 8, a detail fragmentary plan of one end ofthe armature returning mechanism, Fig. 9,-a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 3

and

' Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, sections of modified? forms of cushioning devices.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

The device is shown in the present instance mounted in'the wall 13 of the cylinder of an internal combustion e compression area or combustion chamber. An opening 16 in the cylinder Wall ac connnodates the rear portion of the igniter plug or make-and-break 'igniter '17, which is attached to the engine in thepresent instance by an intermediate annular flange 18 carrying bolts 19 engaging in threaded cavities 20in the cylinder wall.

Mounted upon the plug in any convenient engine wherein 15 F g. 10, a section on line 1010 of Fig. 2,

to f

manner is a magneto or generator; ltn the present instance a bracket arm 22 has on one end an attaching plate 23 fixed by screws 24 to the flange .18, and is integral at its other with the frame or casing 26 of the magneto which has a hollow cylindrical upper portion 27, provided with an opening 28 in its top which is closed by a removable cap or .cover 29 retained in positionby a resilient nger 3Q pivoted on a screw 31 in the casing.

sions 33 and 34 in alinement with each other.

The former has a-longitudinalflbore 35 in line with a plug", The extension 33 has 'lhe casing portion 27 has integral extentransverse grooves 37 at its end adjacent the plug to form an air passage communicating with a piston chamber 36. An asbestos pad 38 separates the flange 23 from the flange 18, and there isexposed to the explosion'chamber 15 of the engine. This piston comprises awall 42 and has upon its exterior spaced annular grooves 43. The piston rod comprises preferablya section 45 rigid with the'piston,

and a section 46 loosely connected to the rigid section. This connection in the present-instance comprises a cylindrical-head 48 on section 45 loosely retained in a cavity. 49 flange 50. A hardened convexity or button 51 at'the end of the cavitytt'orms a bearing for the head. A "IF-slot 54, in the side of section at permit-a is a piston 40 whose end face the insertion of the head 48. The piston sections are relatively rotatable.and have ca pacity for assuming angular relations with each other. The section 46 extends through passage in the extension 33, also across the casing portion 27, and into the extension 34.

The extension 33 has also a passage 58 in alinement witha cylindrical bearing 59 in the extension 34 parallel with a passage 60 in the latter and with the passage 35. There is a bore 62 passing longitudinally through the plug in alinement with the passage 58. In the bore 62, passage 58 and seat 59 is an axially movable grounded electrode 64 fixed to Whose inner end is a contact finger 65 within the compression chamber. A second electrode 67 is fixed in the plug longitudinally thereof'and is separated therefrom by aninsulating sleeve 69. This electrode exh tends into the combustion chamber and has a lateral projection 70in the path of the vibratory finger65. This electrode terminates in a binding post 71.

The outer end of the piston rod is journaled or slidable in a removable bearing 72 in the passage 60 of the extension 34. It has an annular shoulder 73 abutting against a shoulder 74 in said extension, and the rear face of said shoulder has abutting thereon the end of a thimble 76 having a thread 77 engaging a thread 78 in the extension. In

I the thimble is a slidable cap 79 of sufficient diameter to receive the section 46 as a sliding fit, and whose open end abuts against the hearing. In its closed end is a pad 80 of leather or similar material, against the capabuts one end of a helical spring 81, whose other end rests against the closed end of the thimble.

surrounds the section 46 in the extension 33 and has a shoulder 83 abutting against. a

shoulder 84 in said section. The piston section 46 has two annular flanges 85 and 86, and against the flange 85 abuts one end of a compression spring 87, whose other end abuts against the shoulder 83.

. electrode and fixed at one end to the screw 89 and at its other end in a cavity 94 in the casing.

The magneto or generator, as herein shown, is of the ordinary type comprising the casing 26 carrying magnets 95 and the armature shaft 96 journaled in an upper and lower bearing 97 and 98. Fast to-the upper end of the armature shaft is a flat lever or crank 101 having near its end a crank pin A removable bearing 82 102 which extends between the flanges 85 and 86.

The bearing 98 is in an extension 99 of the casing 26, and the latter has an annular channel 103 to receive the hub 104 of an arm 105 oscillatory on the extension.

In the present instance the channel is bounded by a shoulder 108 on the casing exterior, and by a flange 107 on the lower end of the bearing member 98. Attached to the lower extremity of the armature shaft 96, by a set screw 109 or otherwise, is a crank arm 110. Passing through an opening 112 in the arm is a crank pin 114 having the end 115 of the conductor 149 wound around it, and provided with a head 116 on its rear end, and a nut 117 against which abuts a disk 118 loose on the pin and provided with a peripheral groove 119, said disk being retained by a cotter pin 120. Seated in the groove is the hooked end 121 of a retractile spring 122, whose opposite end'123 is fixed in an ear 127 on a plate 128 slidable on the lower face of the arm and provided with a longitudinal slot 129 traversed by a screw 130 having a head 131 which loosely abuts against the plate and has a diametrical hole 132 to slidably receive a pin 133 journaled in a lug 135 on the arm 105, and provided with a thread 137 engaging in a threaded opening 139 in the ear 127. A milled head 141 upon the end of the pin has an adjacent shoulder 142 adjacent the lug 135. Upon the extension 98 is a lug 143 provided with a curved surface which is preferably a cam face 144, having a series (.\f cavities 145 adapted to form seats for the end of the pin 133 and lock the arm 105 by virtue of spring 122, in the radial position assumed by thelatter. The longitudinally slidable capacity of this pin permits it to be withdrawn for insertion into any cavity or outside of the segment. By rotating this pin the tension on the spring 122 may be varied because of the threaded connection of the plate 128 and the threaded portion 137 of the pin.

The armaturewinding 146 has one terminal 147 grounded in the armature shaft, and its other terminal 149 passes through an opening 150 into the hollow lower portion of the shaft, thence to the crank pin 114, through .current conducting disk 118. through the spring 122 to a connecting plate 152 upon the spring and attached to a conductor 153 which extends to the binding post 71 of the fixed electrode. The-described terminal and current conducting members are protected by insulating sleeves 155 and 156 in the armature shaft and crank disk respectively, as well as by an insulating block 157 in the lug 127. \Vhile the described electrical circuit is preferred it will be understood that it is not imperative It is desired to automatically lubricate the piston in proportion to the number of aanaaaa operating strokes of the piston. To this end means actuated by the piston is provided as follows. Recess 158 in theflange 18 has an opening into "the piston chamber 36, leading into which is a vent hole 159. Resting on the flange is the shank 160 of an oil cup 161. Within the opening 158 is a plug 162 having a threaded connection with the flange and of reduced diameter at its lower portion to allow air communication between the cylinder chamber and the vent hole 159. A head 166 upon the plug abuts upon the base of the oil cup and has horizontal openings 168 leading to a vertical opening 169 extending'lingitudinally through the shank or plug 162. Loose in y the latter opening is the stem 170 of a valve .flow of thelubricant from the oil cup through the passage 169 to the grooves in the piston flange. Any heated gases which escape from the engine chamber around the piston escape through the vent opening 159. This vent is independent of the cooling openings 37 which together with the asbestos layer 38 serve to maintainthe parts supported by the plug at a relatively low temperature.

For. the protection of the parts below the arm 105 there is provided, as shown in Fig. '2, a removable housing cap 176 whose upper edge abuts against the margin of the arm, and is provided at one end with a vertical slot 177 to admit therethrough the head 141 of the pin 133. Thiscap is retained in position by one or more spring fingers 179 riveted to its side, or opposite sides, as at 180, and engaging the edge of I the arm.

' ing a sparking current in the electric circult. The advance of the member 46 causes ,the flange 86 to contact with the cam 91 on the electrode 64 thus forcing the contact arm 65awav from the electrode 67 to create a spark. The spring 93 returns the arm to original position. The advance of the member 46 is cushioned by the boiler spring 81 and by the pad 80 whereby noise and shock to the structure is prevented. The spring 87-c ushions the movement of the member 46 injats apposite travel. Thearmatnre and motor, because the compression in the cylarmature shaft be greater at the moment vto the subsequent resistance.

radial positions. The member 133 changes ltlt piston are returned to their initial positions by the retractile spring 122 operating through the crank arm 110. A change in the speed of piston return is attained by varying the tension of the spring 122 by turning the pin 133.

It is desirable to produce a spark at the lowest rate of compression, as when cranhing, and at extremely low speeds of the inder must be built up near to highest compression before the ignition devices operates. It is, therefore, necessary that when the required pressure is reached the force restraining the piston suddenly releases the mechanism in order that the pressure may impart sufficient velocity to the armature to generate a current to furnish a spark.

It is essential that the initial restraining torque exerted by the spring 122 upon the of starting of the device than at any later perior of its advance.

After the engine is running, on the other hand, the restraining action of the spring may be varied from a high initial resistance relative to the subsequent resistance, to a" ratio of a lower initial resistance'relative' This is accomplished by changing the axial position of the arm, and the values of any of these ratios-may be varied within certain limits by increasing or decreasing the spring tension by turning the threaded pin 133 and by swinging; the arm 105 to any of its the magnitude of the ratio, but not sufficiently to reverse the ratio. The movement of the arm, however, is suflicient, without turning the member 133, to reverse the ratio. The arm is turned to he position shown in broken lines in Fig. 6 when the compression is being slowly built up at the-time of starting, or at low speed. As the speed increases the arm is swung in the direction of the ar row a greater or less distance. Thus the timing of the spark is controlled under all conditions, and the rate of speed at which the device operates may be varied. At any desired point of adjustment of the arm the pin 133 enters an adjacent cavity 145 and retains the arm against accidental movement. If, as in this instance, the cavities are disposed on a cam surface the spring tensionis further auamented, thus intensitying the spring action already described.

It the curvature of the face 144 is arcuate rather than a cam, this auxiliary advantage is lacking.

- The arm 105 may be immovab e when used in connection with motors wherein a wide range of motor speed is absent, but in case of motors having a wide range of mo tor speed the ratio of the torque exerted by the spring may be varied over a wider range.

The operative parts are thoroughly housed against dirt by the cap 176 and by the portion 27 of the casing with its removable cover 29, as well as by the construction of the casing as a whole; and the lubricant is not allowed to escape. The wear occasioned by the member 46 is concentrated upon the bear ings 72 and 82 which are easily'removable and renewable. I i

It will be observed that the oiLcup is located adjacent the engine cylinder where by the utilization of the heat, the-oil flows in proportion as required. lVhen the motor is cold little oil is required. As it warms up more oil is required. Furthermore in case of oils of varying densities more thin oil is fed than viscous oil, which is the result desirable for lubrication purposes.

It willbe further noted that'inv the electric circuit certain of the operative parts are employed as conductors, such as the spring 122. This spring because of its accessibility renders it available for repair or substitution.

The proximity of the plug' 16 to the cylinder chamber has a tendency to heat thepiston, as well as the plug exccssively,and injury to former is prevented by the hollow character of the piston 40 by virtue of thewall 42. The piston and plug are further cooled by the passages 37 whereby fresh air is induced into the piston chamber and by outlets 159 through which the heated gases escape during the explosion period, thus preventing the mixing of the heated gases with the cooling air within the hollow piston.

The casing adjacent to the plug would become excessively hot by conduction, and to avoid this the heat insulating layer 38 is interposed between the casing and the plug. The means described for cushioning the thrust of the piston is not exclusive but satisfactory results are attainable by the modified form of structures shown in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive. In Fig. 11 the cushioning means is pneumatic, and in this instance the member 46 has preferably upon its end a head 182, movable in a sleeve 184 which is slidably mounted in the thimble 76. The sleeve has an outer end wall 186 provided with an opening 187, and is provided upon its inner end with an inturned flange 188 adapted to engage the head 182 and to abut against the member 72 at the end of the return reciprocation of the member 46. As the sleeve 184 is shorter. than the thimble there exists a resultant air space 189 in the end,of the thimble. The head 182 in its advance closes the opening 187 and forces the sleeve outwardly thus compressing the air in chamber 189 and thereby absorbing the of the piston advance. The return of t e member 46 returns the sleeve 184 to original position'by the cooperation of the flange 188 andhead 182. This flange may,

however, be omitted and a spring 191 be substituted therefor to effect the sleeve return as shown in Fig. 13 wherein the thimble is provided with an end portion of reduced diameter forming a seat 193 for the end of the spring.

A method of cushioning the piston ad-' spring, pneum atic, and hydraulic means. In

this instance the thimble is reduced near its end to form the chamber 193, and is still further reduced at its end to form a seat 197 for the end of a spring 198' which cxtends to the-mouth of the chamber 193' and has its confined end fixed to the thimble. The advance of the piston causes the head 182, in its advance, to confine the oil 195, oncounter the spring 198, and compress the air in the chambers 193 and 197.

I claim 1. In a compression operated ignition device, the combination with an engine cylin; der, of an igniter in the cylinder provided with a piston chamber opening into the cylinder, a piston in the chamber exposed to the charge inthe cylinder and air passages in the igniter extending from the atmosphere to said piston chamber. 4

2. In a compression operated ignition device, the combination with an engine cylinder, of an igniter in the cylinder provided with a pistonchamber extending into the cylinder, a piston in the chamber exposed to the charge in the cylinder, said igniter being provided with air passages extending from thcatmosphcre to the piston chamber, and with vent openings adjacent the air passages extending to said piston chamber.

3. In a compression operated ignition device, the combi iation with the engine cylinder, of an igni'er in the cylinder provided with a piston chamber, and means for introducing atmospheric air into the piston chamber.

4. In a compression operated ignition de- .vice, the combination with an engine cylinder, of an igniter in the cvlinder provided with a piston chamber, and with means for admitting atmospheric air to the chamber,

and a piston in the chamber. I

5. In a compression operated ignition de vice, the combination with an. engine cylin liltl "with a-piston Ciiiii'iififi'f afiioiiow pisses in the ciian'ibei, anci means for o/xitiii g iiiospherio air to the interior or. ii ie 3iSt)11 d. for per the esoepe air eeefi'om.

ELIQSSiUH operated ignition (fie-- the eoiiioiiiotioii with (ziie igni-cei' pro piston Qilfiillbflf, of e pien EiLIETI} e easing iiioiinteii on as iii. the ignites; a genera en ai'icozituifel shaft in fiiae eratiwe eomiections beizween the int-sit :in iston and a s rin exterior of the casing for actuating the shaft, and iii eiectiio 'eii'ouit between the electrodes inehiding ihe spring in said circuit.

8. in a compression operated ignition device, the eombinationwith theigniizei', of e easing an. armature shaft in the generator,

r an arm. on the casing"- adjecent the shaft, a

crank o l the shaft, a spring connecting the crank and arm, an armature Winding; on the shaft, a terminal on the windinggi'ounded in the shai't a circuit Wire from the Winding exiending io the crank, and. s. eireuit wire extending from the expansion spring to one of the eii-letiooies 9 gression opersiteii ignition device 'eziiioii mm the ignite! em];

oesing,- oi". a too in the igiiitei' actuated j the eogiize eherge, so oseiiia'tory is re shaft mounted. in the casing, e shaft in the operativeiy coniiectei with the erm'aiure shaft, e heed. on the pie-- tom chamber to the atoms; 1m, ends piston one ton shoit, said. casing iaein piovideii Wii; an air chamber in the pa of "the head sleeve slidiabiy mounted in the fiiliimiflflf e weii on. the emi of the sieei'e iiie iii of the head. and provided 'ii'i tii adapted to be closed by the heed 10* in a compression operated. igi'i i sieviee, the combination with the casing, of a piston in the ignicer actuated. by the engine charge, an oscillatory eir'iniitiiie shaft mounted in the casing. o, piston easing attached io the pisi' o in on opemtiveiy connected Wifiii me shaft, a. head on the shaft s pi'ovicieci wi e aiiiiement with the pi fiery eve in oi" head, 2;, weii on video. wii h am air lead, {L a flange on i: sleeve also in the polio of the head 11. In a compression operated-i ignition eievice, the combination "with the ignite! and easing, of :1 piston in the igiiiiei, iiii oseiiissory armature shaft in the easing, :1 piston shaft on the piston. extending into the casing engaging the ,armatoi'e sheik head on the piston shaft, said ezisii being provided with an air chamber in shoemeni; with the piston, e seat in the casing at oneenei of the eii: chamber a sleeve siidzibiy mounted in f zhe chamber and surrounding the head. weii on the end of the'sieeve provided with {iii opening" in the path of the head, midi ii spring in the seat extending into the chasm bee.

in testimony whereof have signature in presence oi? two w tnesses I Witnesses HORA'IIO E. EELLO'WS, MARY A. Swimwear, 

